"News You Can Use" <> August 18, 2014 August 18, 2014 MICRA, Public Health No on 46, Pertussis, Prop 46 0 CONTENTS Vote No on Prop 46! SDCMS Foundation Solana Beach Sunset 5K Run / Walk on September 27 Three Great SDCMS Training Sessions for SDCMS Members: Taming Microsoft Outlook, Leader’s Toolkit, Work-Life Balance August 18 Update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak in West Africa Pertussis Epidemic in San Diego County and California CDC Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients With Suspected Infection With Ebola Virus Disease Free STD Clinical Update at Liberty Station on August 28 Los Angeles County Democratic Party Opposes Prop. 46 Contra Costa Times Editorial: “Proposition 46 Goes Too Far, We Urge a No Vote” Los Angeles Business Journal Op-ed: “Wrong R/x for California: Lawyers Look to Line Pockets With Proposition 46, Which Would Raise Caps on Medical Injury Damages” Read the Press Release Announcing the No on 46 Campaign's First Online Video Follow the No on 46 Campaign on Twitter Like the No on 46 Page on Facebook Embed the YouTube Video on Your Website or Blog More Ways You Can Help Spread the Word About No on Proposition 46 Hospital Network Hacked, 4.5 Million Records Stolen CMS Announces Resumption of Limited Medicare Audits Congress Allows Veterans to Seek Care Outside VA System CMS Issues Proposed 2015 Medicare Payment Rule CMS Temporarily Takes Sunshine Act System Offline How to Dispute Incorrect Sunshine Act Data Before It Goes Public CMA Update and Resources on the Medicare / Medi-Cal Duals Demonstration Anthem Blue Cross Begins Medical Chart Reviews for Exchange Patients Blue Shield Mailer to Physicians on Exchange August 4 CMA Legislative Update Primary Care Physicians: There’s Still Time to Attest! Physicians: Come Join Your Colleagues at a Networking Opportunity and Mixer on Friday, September 12! Spread the Message of Health! UCSD PACE Program Is Recruiting Practicing Physicians Above Age 50 for a PACE Aging Physician Assessment Pilot Study September 20 CPPPH Workshop for Physician Health Committees “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” — aka San Diego’s Top Docs — Gala on November 1 Ask Your SDCMS Physician Advocate, Marisol Gonzalez CMA Practice Resources, August 2014 Follow SDCMS’ Twitter Feed and Get a Treasure Trove of Healthcare News Delivered Daily to Your Smartphone Is Your Office Manager / Practice Administrator Using SDCMS’ Online Forum? Covered California Resources for SDCMS-CMA Member Physician Practices Only Covered California Resources for All Physician Practices ABOVE THE FOLD Vote No on Prop 46! Click Here to Watch the No on 46 Campaign’s First Online Campaign Video: "The Truth About Proposition 46” Executive Director Comment: Here is a great example of what one doctor is doing to mobilize the patients and doctors whom he and his team are in touch with. Here is his email to me: I want to share with you my efforts to propagate the message regarding Proposition 46 in the community. I am: Wearing the No on 46 button every day and educating patients as well as office staff, visitors, industry representatives, and others. Wearing the button to the hospital and visiting all the nurses' stations and educating them. I keep lab coat cards with me everywhere I go. Showing the No on Prop 46 video … to patients in rooms equipped for video. Requesting the patients talk about Prop 46 to their family and friends. I provide lab coat cards with website and social media links to those interested. Making copies of the No on 46 patient brochures and distributing it in both English and Spanish. Going to community events such as picnics, birthday parties, and educating friends and family about the importance of voting No. Click Here to Order Bumper Stickers, Buttons, Brochures, Message Cards, Posters, Starter Kits, and More! We Hope to See Everyone at the SDCMS Foundation Solana Beach Sunset 5K Run / Walk on Saturday, September 27 at 5pm: Click here for more information or email Kathleen.Kramberg@SDCMS.org for a team sign-up sheet. Three Great SDCMS Training Sessions for SDCMS Members: Taming Microsoft Outlook Workshop on Saturday, September 13, From 8:00am to Noon: Click Here for Details and to Register Leader’s Toolkit Seminar on September 27–28 for Members Interested in Focused Learning About Leadership and Management: For details or to reserve your spot, email me at Gehring@SDCMS.org. Only 5 seats left! Work-Life Balance Workshop on Saturday, October 11: Take an honest look at your life, reacquaint yourself with what you find most meaningful, and then make the changes that will bring your life into greater balance! Join your colleagues and Helane Fronek, MD, certified physician development coach, on Saturday, October 11, from 9:00am to noon to begin to see your life, and your choices in it, in a new light! Workshop limited to 12 physicians. Email Dr. Fronek at hsfronek@aol.com for details or to reserve your spot today! MEDICAL August 18 Update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak in West Africa: Click Here Pertussis Epidemic in San Diego County and California: Click Here CDC Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients With Suspected Infection With Ebola Virus Disease: Click Here Free STD Clinical Update at Liberty Station on August 28, 12–5pm (3 Credit Hours): Presented by the California STD / HIV Prevention Training Center and the County of San Diego HHSA. Preregistration required. Click Here SAVING MICRA — NO ON 46! Los Angeles County Democratic Party Opposes Prop. 46! Lambasting the measure as being “full of gimmicks” while “gaming” an important political issue, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) has voted overwhelmingly to oppose Prop. 46. With the California Republican Party having already come out in opposition to Prop. 46, and the statewide Democratic Party opting to remain neutral on the matter, having LACDP backing the “No on 46” campaign continues to round out our effort as bipartisan, diverse, and growing by the day. Contra Costa Times Editorial: “Proposition 46 Goes Too Far, We Urge a No Vote”: Click Here Los Angeles Business Journal Op-ed: “Wrong R/x for California: Lawyers Look to Line Pockets With Proposition 46, Which Would Raise Caps on Medical Injury Damages”: Click Here Click Here to Read the Press Release Announcing the No on 46 Campaign's First Online Video Click Here and Follow the No on 46 Campaign on Twitter Click Here and Like the No on 46 Page on Facebook Embed the YouTube Video on Your Website or Blog: Email social@NoOn46.com if you need help. Click Here for More Ways You Can Help Spread the Word About No on Proposition 46 Vote NO on Prop. 46 on November 4! FEDERAL Hospital Network Hacked, 4.5 Million Records Stolen: Click here to read the story. Most of the time, the way hackers get in are socially engineered fake emails with malware links that are designed to fool the users and get clicked. Be very careful, even with emails from people you know, as those people's personal contacts may have been compromised. If the above can happen to such a LARGE hospital network, then it can happen to ANY medical organization. Use Best Practices and caution, and get your users to: Do not FIRST click on anything. HOVER (not click) over any hyperlinks you deem suspicious. COMPARE the link you see with the ACTUAL link that is exposed when hovering in the pop-up Tool Tip. If the links are DIFFERENT then it is a SCAM. SHIFT-DELETE the entire email (which bypasses the Deleted Items and is permanently deleted). In addition get management to: Have your HIPAA officer review your specific HIPAA rules and training in place. Have another look at your business insurance to review the coverages offered in these breach cases and contact your insurance broker for clarification. CMS Announces Resumption of Limited Medicare Audits: CMS will restart the Recovery Audit Contractor program following a brief hiatus. The agency had temporarily halted the audits, which had been criticized by physicians as overly aggressive, as it made its way through procurement of new contracts and identified improvements to the program. Click Here for Details Congress Allows Veterans to Seek Care Outside VA System: Click Here for Details CMS Issues Proposed 2015 Medicare Payment Rule: Click Here for Details CMS Temporarily Takes Sunshine Act System Offline: Click Here for Details How to Dispute Incorrect Sunshine Act Data Before It Goes Public: Physicians have until August 27 to review and dispute reports about their financial interactions with manufacturers of drugs and medical devices under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The data will be released to the public on Sept. 30. Click Here for Details STATE CMA Update and Resources on the Medicare / Medi-Cal Duals Demonstration: Click Here for Details Anthem Blue Cross Begins Medical Chart Reviews for Exchange Patients: Click Here for Details Blue Shield Mailer to Physicians on Exchange: Click Here for Details August 4 CMA Legislative Update: Click Here Primary Care Physicians: There’s Still Time to Attest! Eligible physicians who have already attested have received over $200 million in ACA primary care rate increases — don’t miss out! To qualify for enhanced payments for fee-for-service Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal managed care plans, you must first self-attest to your eligibility. The deadline to attest, if you haven’t already done so, is December 31, 2014. If you have attested and not received your additional funds, you should confirm the accuracy of the information submitted through the attestation process. If you have questions, call Medi-Cal’s Telephone Service Center at (800) 541-5555. For more information, see CMA’s “Medi-Cal Primary Care Physician Rate Increase FAQs.” Having Trouble Wi th Your Attestation? The SDCMS Foundation can provide technical assistance at very reasonable costs. Email Victor.Bloomberg@SDCMS.org. LOCAL Physicians: Come Join Your Colleagues at a Networking Opportunity and Mixer on Friday, September 12, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, at the Rock Bottom Brewery in La Jolla! All physicians, members and nonmembers, are welcome and encouraged to attend. Come mingle, socialize, and network with your fellow San Diego County physicians. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. To RSVP, email your name and telephone number to Jen at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org. Spread the Message of Health! The SDCMS Foundation is partnering with the County of San Diego to educate community members on how to improve their lives and take charge of their health by launching a Live Well Physicians’ Speakers Bureau. Will you make brief presentations at your neighborhood school, community center, or place of worship? Your voice is important as we collectively work together — "Physicians United for a Healthy San Diego." Contact Barbara.Mandel@SDCMS.org to say YES, you will volunteer just one or two times a year, quarterly, or however your schedule allows. UCSD PACE Program Is Recruiting Practicing Physicians Above Age 50 for a PACE Aging Physician Assessment (PAPA) Pilot Study: Anyone interested in participating should click here, complete the form, and return it to pdreid@ucsd.edu; for any questions, contact Patricia Reid, MPH, at (619) 471-0569. David E.J. Bazzo, MD, Director, PACE Fitness for Duty Program, is heading this effort. Compensation for your time is offered. September 20 CPPPH Workshop for Physician Health Committees: The California Public Protection & Physician Health, Inc. (CPPPH) is holding a workshop for members of medical staff and medical group physician health committees on Saturday, September 20, 9:00am to 12 noon, at the SDCMS Foundation, 5575 Ruffin Road, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92123. Advance registration is required — click here. “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” — aka San Diego’s Top Docs — Gala on November 1: The gala honoring this year’s selectees will be held on Saturday, November 1 at the Birch Aquarium. Click Here for Details and to Purchase Your Tickets! BENEFITS / PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Ask Your SDCMS Physician Advocate, Marisol Gonzalez: Member Question: I am a primary care physician who is in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), and I’ve also attested to participate in the Primary Care Incentive Payment Program (PCIP). Should I expect to receive incentive payments for both HPSA and PCIP? Answer: Yes, you will qualify for both the PCIP (10%) and HPSA (10%) bonus payments. Both of these incentive payments will be paid out to you quarterly, and will be based on the actual amount paid, not the allowed amount. For more information, SDCMS members can contact your SDCMS physician advocate, Marisol Gonzalez, at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org or at (858) 300-2783. CMA Practice Resources, August 2014: United Healthcare Fined $173 Million by California Insurance Commissioner: Click Here Blue Shield Data Breach Affects California Doctors: Click Here California Democratic Party to Remain Neutral on Prop. 46: Click Here United Healthcare Finally Completes Pacificare Recontracting Effort After 2006 Merger: Click Here Noridian Offering Webinars for Practices: Click Here CMS Offering Webcasts on ICD-10 Clinical Documentation Requirements: Click Here How to File Effective Second Bill Reviews for Workers’ Compensation: Click Here Meet Your CMA Affinity Partners: Click Here The Coding Corner: Modifier 78 – The “Complications” Modifier: Click Here Follow SDCMS’ Twitter Feed and Get a Treasure Trove of Healthcare News Delivered Daily to Your Smartphone: Click Here Is Your Office Manager / Practice Administrator Using SDCMS’ Online Forum? Click Here to Join COVERED CALIFORNIA Resources for SDCMS-CMA Member Physician Practices Only: Email Membership@SDCMS.org to access a matrix to help answer questions like “Am I contracted to see Covered California patients?” “Which health plans are participating in Covered California?” “How do I check my participation status with these plans?” CMA's "Covered California: Know Your Participation Status" Guide CMA's Surviving Covered California: Tip Sheet #4 CMA’s Got You Covered: A Physician’s Guide to Covered California, the State’s Health Benefit Exchange CMA's "Surviving the Third Month of Covered California" Tip Sheet CMA's Health Insurance Exchange Resources Webpage for Physicians CMA's "Understanding the Grace Period for Subsidized Exchange Enrollees" Resources for All Physician Practices: Upcoming “Covered California: What Your Healthcare Team Needs to Know” Seminars & Webinars: Seminar / Webinar on Thursday, September 18, 11:30am–1:00pm • Seminar / Webinar on Thursday, October 16, 11:30am–1:00pm • Seminar on Thursday, October 16, 5:30pm–7:00pm In-office Education for Staff Provided by the SDCMS Foundation: Email Victor.Bloomberg@SDCMS.org CMA's Frequently Asked Patient Questions About Covered California Covered California Consumer Materials for Your Office Waiting Room: Call (858) 300-2789 "What You Need to Know About the 2014 Re-enrollment Period" Lunch Seminar / Webinar on Sept. 18 (12–1pm) and Oct. 16 (12–1pm) — Email Barbara.Mandel@SDCMS.org "What You Need to Know About the 2014 Re-enrollment Period" Dinner Seminar on October 16, 5:30pm to 7:00pm (Dinner Provided) — Email Barbara.Mandel@SDCMS.org “The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.” — Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish Novelist, Poet, and Playwright (1547–1616) Comments are closed.